Constructing spin crossover-fluorescence bifunctional iron(II) complexes based on tetraphenyl ethylene-decorated AIEgens.

Investigating spin crossover (SCO)-fluorescence bifunctional materials and establishing their structure-function relationships are attractive topics in chemistry and materials science. However, it remains challenging to preserve the fluorescence and SCO properties simultaneously in aggregated solid states. Herein, we design an (E)-2,6-bis(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)styryl)pyridine (tpe-bpp) ligand, which contains coordinated SCO and fluorescence units of an aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen). The coordination of the tpe-bpp ligand with different FeII salts generated three mononuclear complexes: [Fe(tpe-bpp)2](ClO4)2·5.75CH2Cl2 (1), [Fe(tpe-bpp)2](ClO4)2·CH2Cl2·3CH3OH (2) and [Fe(tpe-bpp)2](BF4)2·CH2Cl2·3CH3OH (3). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed that they shared a similar [Fe(tpe-bpp)2]2+ complex cation. Their counterions and co-crystallized solvents were different. Magnetic measurements revealed that 1, 2, and 3 exhibited a complete SCO behavior with the transition temperatures T1/2 of 375, 260, and 248 K, respectively. Fluorescence measurements confirmed the existence of the AIE property for both the tpe-bpp ligand and Fe(II) complexes. A monotonic decrease of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity upon increasing the temperature was behavior observed for all three complexes.

Cloning, expression and activity of ATP-binding protein in Bacillus thuringiensis toxicity modulation against Aedes aegypti.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is a widely used mosquitocidal microbial pesticide due to its high toxicity. ATP-binding proteins (ABP) are prevalently detected in insects and are related to reaction against Bti toxins. However, the function of ABP in mosquito biocontrol is little known, especially in Aedes aegypti. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the function of ABP in Ae. aegypti against Bti toxin. RESULTS: Aedes aegypti ABP (GenBank: XM_001661856.2) was cloned, expressed and purified in this study. Far-western blotting and ELISA were also carried out to confirm the interaction between ABP and Cry11Aa. A bioassay of Cry11Aa was performed both in the presence and absence of ABP, which showed that the mortality of Ae. aegypti is increased with an increase in ABP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ABP in Ae. aegypti can modulate the toxicity of Cry11Aa toxin to mosquitoes by binding to Bti toxin. This could not only enrich the mechanism of Bt toxin, but also provide more data for the biocontrol of this transmission vector.

Study on a series of novel self-assembly supramolecular solar cells based on a double-layer structured chromophore of Zn-porphyrins.

We prepared in this work an anchoring porphyrin and a series of hat-porphyrins. The zinc atom of the hat-porphyrins can be coordinated axially with the pyridine moiety of the anchoring porphyrin which is anchored on the titania surface by a carboxyl group. The structures of the assemblies were confirmed using computational calculations, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Solar cell devices of the monomer anchoring porphyrin and its assemblies were fabricated and the photovoltaic performances were measured under standard AM 1.5 sunlight irradiance. We found that the assembly devices showed higher JSC and lower VOC than that of the monomer anchoring porphyrin device. However, the comprehensive influence of JSC and VOC led to an enhancement in the solar-to-electric power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of the assemblies. We also studied the variation of JSC and VOC using electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy, charge extraction measurements, transient photovoltage decay measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

[Exogenous carbon monoxide protects against liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion of hind limbs in rats].

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) on the liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of hind limbs in rats. METHODS: 100 SD rats were divided randomly into sham operated group (S), S+ CO group (SC), I/R group (I/R), I/ R+ CO group (RC). A rat model of ischemia in hind limbs and the reperfusion liver injury was established with the occlusion of the femoral arteries for 4 h and re-opening for 6 - 72 h, 10 d. The rats in SC and RC groups were exposed to air containing CO (the volume traction of CO: 0.05%) for 2 h before and after reperfusion or the corresponding control time point, while the other two groups were exposed to the routine air. The pathologic changes of liver tissue were morphologically observed by HE stain. Serum GPT activity was tested by Automatic Biochemical Analyzer. The percentage of apoptosis, expression levels of bax and bcl-2 protein in liver tissue were detected by Flow Cytometry. RESULTS: There was no difference between S and SC groups. Compared with SC group: (1) Pathological changes in liver tissue were significant in I/R and RC groups. (2) The serum GPT activity of I/R and RC groups was obviously increased. (3) In IR and RC groups, the percentage of apoptosis in liver tissue was all significantly increased. (4) The bax expression level was significantly increased. Compared RC group with I/R group: (1) Pathological change was slight. (2) The serum GPT activity was depressed. (3) The percentage of apoptosis and expression level of bax protein in liver tissue were depressed. (4) The expression level of bcl-2 protein in liver tissue was increased. CONCLUSION: Exogenous CO could attenuate liver tissue injury induced by limbs I/R in rats.